April 1, 2011
Gr 1-2-Extremely close-up photos that do not permit good perspective combine with inconsistent vocabulary to produce a series that assumes that readers have never encountered any of these machines. Overly simplistic word choices such as "tools" in place of "equipment" or "implement," and "hurt" instead of "injured," contrast with "emergency," "technician," and "structure." Bold-faced words are not defined in the text, and the glossaries are superfluous. Some pronunciations are a bit strained. About half of the text in each book is devoted to asking questions such as, "Have you ever seen a bulldozer?" Many of the stock photos, which feature equipment with brand names removed, are European in origin and do not translate well to this country. The numerous sidebars are also full of questions and add little to the text. Many captions are redundant. There isn't enough content here to make this series worth considering.
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